Machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads



H. BRUDNEY Dec. 12, 1961 MACHINE FOR INSERTING DOLL EYES IN DOLL HEADS Filed May 13, 1959 74 32 70 FIG. 4

lllllllfllllllflullllll lin INVENTOR. eeup/vsg United States Patent dice Patented Dec. 12, 1961 Filed May 13, 1959, Ser. No. 812,949 Claims. (Cl. 29-209) This invention relates to doll eye insertion and more particularly to insertion of unitary doll eyes in vinyl doll heads.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine capable of stretching the eye socket in a vinyl doll head in a uniform manner for insertion of a doll eye.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mag chine for insertion of a doll eye of the unitary, closed type, wherein the shell of the eye need not be lubricated in any manner.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine of a simple construction and having a plurality of radially moving jaws to uniformly stretch a doll eye opening in a doll head, wherein the force moving the jaws is effected through the medium of the doll eye or a pusher element which engages the eye.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a machine which inserts a doll eye and protects the material of the doll head surrounding the eye opening cavity from contact with the doll eye as it is being inserted.

it is an additional object of the invention to provide a machine which provides for positive eye insertion and minimizes or eliminates any secondary inspection or adjustmcnt operation after the eye has been placed within the doll head eye socket.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the description to follow.

I afn aware that it is not broadly new to push a unitary doll eye into a vinyl doll head and reference is made at this point to my copending patent application, S.N. 683,794, filed September 13, 1957, for Mechanism for inserting Doll Eyes in Flexible Doll Heads now Patent No. 2,931,096, granted April 5, 1960. The present invention constitutes an improvement over the structure found therein primarily by virtue of the fact that four moving jaws are used instead of two jaws wherein one of said two jaws was fixed. It has been found that a twojaw arrangement frequently puts tension on the weakest section of the eye opening, and in the case of certain vinyl materials, actual tearing of the doll face, starting at a corner of the eye, is caused. The present invention overcomes this drawback by providing four jaws which expand simultaneously away from each other radially and stress the doll eye at four areas equi-angularly spaced. Further, the amount of stretch required by the four-jaw arrangement disclosed herein is not as great as that required in a two-jaw arrangement wherein one of the two jaws was fixed. Thus, the four-jaw arrangement has been found to be considerably more satisfactory with modern vinyl materials which are not as flexible as the older materials, particularly when it is considered that such modern materials do not have good recovery power beyond a limited degree of stretch. Furthermore, by providing a four-jaw arrangement wherein the eye is substantially enclosed within the four jaws, at least to an extent whereby the eye does not drag past any part of the vinyl material surrounding the eye opening in the doll head, lubrication of the eye is eliminated. The elimination of drag g contact also eliminates the tendency of the eye to scratch or mar the vinyl material.

Briefly, my invention comprises a construction having four jaws arranged in pivotal relationship and swinging away from each other with respect to a common axis passing between the jaws, which axis is the optical axis of an eye positioned between the jaws for insertion in a doll equal angles with respect to said axis, and thus a perfect alignment of the doll eye with the eye socket in a doll head is achieved. Such improved alignment elfects a straightforward placement of the eye within the head socket and therefore much time of subsequent adjustment is saved, or entirely eliminated.

Another advantageous effect of my four-jaw arrangement is to minimize the amount of stretching of the vinyl material. This is important because when such niaterial is stretched beyond its point of resistance, the inserted eye has atendency to cock or tip within the socket. By minimization of the degree of stretch, this drawback is eliminate Further, my invention provides for positive positioning of the eye in relation to the four jaws by the use of a positioning cradle, thus efiecting the straightforward thrust on the eye unit for accurate alignment within the eye socket and with respect to the eye socket.

A further efiec-t of my four-jaw arrangement resides in the fact that when the four jaws are removed after eye insertion,- that is, removed from the eye socket, there is no stripping action either as to the eye or the edge of the socket which might tend to move the eye out of straightforward optical axis position. This is due to the fact that the eye socket opening collapses uniformly as the four jaws are slipped rearwardly out to leave the eye in position. Such uniformity is not possible with a two-jaw arrangement.

The four-jaw arrangement disclosed herein is likewise advantageous because it is readily adaptable for use in large-size eyes which have given difliculty where a twojaw construction was used. I have discovered that my four-jaw arrangement, which operates on the principle of providing a motive power for all four jaws, is much more practical for all sizes of dolls eyes and, in partie ula'r, in instances where the doll heads to be used have been permitted to stand long enough to effect a harden ing of the vinyl material. This, of course, produces stretching difiiculties and, in the case of a two-jaw a1 rangement, the danger of tearing is increased. There are instances where it is necessary to permit a doll head to stand for some time after being molded prior to eye in sertion; for example, where it is necessary to wig the head. Under some circumstances, pre-heating of heads has been resorted to in order to prevent tearing of the more modern vinyl materials of doll heads. However, wigged heads cannot be pre-heated and, accordingly, my four-jaw construction becomes especially valuable under such circumstances. My invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the appended drawing iriwhich: I

FIG.'1 is an elevation showing the arrangement of my invention as applied to a doll head.

FIG. 2 is a front view.

FIG. 3 is a section through 3'3 of FIG; 1.

FIG. 4 is a section through M of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section through 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation of a modification.

Referring now to the drawing, my invention comprises a base 10 to which is secured a cruciform four-arm holder element 14' via a holder block 15. The cruciform holder element 14 consists of identical half sections 14a and 14b. Holder element 14 has in each arm thereof an opening 18. The components 14a and 14b come together to make the vertical arms (FIG. 2) and are suit ably secured together as by pins or bolts 16. From com parison of FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the low ermost leg of the cruciform configuration, comprising portions of sections 14a and 14b, is held in a recess 20 provided between the forwardly extending portions 21 of head. The jaws all move equally; that is, through 3 the block fastened to base 16 as by bolts 28, A bolt 32 passes downwardly through each of the lateral arms of the holder element 14 to secure this member to the respective block portions 21.

It will be noted that the openings 18 are symmetrically cruciform, matching the shape of the cruciform block and extending into each arm of the block and providing a large central opening 20.

Four jaws are carried by the holder element 14. Thus, vertically movable top and bottom jaws 36 are freely pivoted to the block as by pivot pins 40.

Horizontally movable side jaws 44 are provided freely pivotal as by pins 48. The pins 40 and48 are carried in suitable bores provided in the cruciform pieces 14:: and 14b as shown in FIG. 2. a

The jaws have rounded interior surfaces to conform to the shape of a doll eye casing.

It will be apparent from consideration of the several views of the drawing that the jaws may close together at their tips as seen in FIG. 2 and may swing with respect to each other to a position substantially normal to the surface of the cruciform block 14, as indicated by the'dashed lines in FIG. 5. The jaws are maintained in closed position at their front ends by a rubber loop 49, shown inzFlG. 4, which rubber loop is accommodated in grooves 50, each jaw being provided with one such groove, as shown in FIG. 1. The horizontally movable jaws 44 are provided with interior longitudinal grooves 52 extending substantially their length, which grooves accommodate horizontal ridges 56 (FIG. 1) of the casing of a unitary doll eye 60 to be inserted in the eye socket of a doll head 64.

A precisely centralized closed position of the jaws is provided by 'a right angle flange 65 carried by each jaw and engageable with a respective arm of cruciform jaw holder 14. The forward portions of the jaws are suitablytapered at 66 to provide easy insertion into the eye socket.

' To initially support the doll eye 60, an arcuately recessed cradle 70 machined from a T-shaped block 74 is provided, bolted to the holder block 15 as by bolts 78. Each side of the recess terminates in a rabbet 80.

A pneumatic cylinder and piston arrangement generally indicated, by 82, having the pusher rod 86, carries a chuck or pusher element 90 having a front hollow 94 which accommodates the forward portion of the doll eye, as shown in FIG. 1. The doll eye casing-serves as a cam for swinging the jaws outwardly from the closed position of FIG. 2 to the open position indicated on FIG. 5, as will be apparent from the following description of operation.

In operation, the doll head 64 ispositioned so that the tips of the jaws protrude into the socket, FIG. 1. The doll eye is then rested in the cradle 70 with its ridges 56 horizontally disposed and resting in a respective rabbet 80, the front of the eye being in recess 96 in chuck 90 which is then in position as shown in FIG. 1. The front edges of the chuck abut the forward rim of the doll eye and, when power is applied to the cylinder 82, the sloping rear surface 94 of the doll eye casing engages the jaws at the respective corners 100, which corners are rounded somewhat to efiect a smooth camming action. Thus, the eye casing forces the jaws to swing outwardly.

With the forward tips of the jaws initially inserted the eye cavity of the doll head, as indicated in FIG. 1, the outward swinging of the jaws, as forced by forward propulsion of the doll eye casing, stretches the margin of the vinyl material around the cavity opening a sufiicient degree to permit the eye unit to be thrust completely through the jaws and into the eye cavity, being firmly guided by the grooves 52, whichgrooves extend practically to the forward tips of the jaws so that the eye is positively guided up to final rest position in the cavity. a

It will be seen that the construction and action of the device causes the doll eye to be maintained in a straightforward motion directly into the eye cavity and that it is not possible for the doll eye to abrade the vinyl material surrounding the socket as it is being pushed into it. This is due to the fact that the eye socket margin is uniformly stretched at four areas and apart and the degree of stretch between jaws atforded by the device is such as to preclude dragging of the vinyl material against the eye casing as it moves into the socket. Of

course, some slight contact can be tolerated, but in no event is lubrication of the eye casing necessary. The outward swinging of the jaws occurs simultaneously and to an equal degree and there is suflicient tolerance in the fit of the jaws within the cruciform holder so that the jaws can swing fully to permit the eye to pass completely therethrough.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the eye 69' is not used as a cam. The pusher element 90' is made slightly larger in diameter than the eye casing, and the jaws 44 are pivoted at points suitably spaced in relation to the length of the jaws so as to be actuated,

'i.e., swung outwardly, by the movement of the pusher element. It will be noted that the angle the jaws make in rest position with the center line of the eye is less than that made by the arrangement of FIG. 1. Therefore, by application of the inclined plane principle, less force is required to open the jaws than in the construction of FIG. 1 which uses a higher angle. This, of course, is advantageous in that manual force for motivating the pusher is practical, while at the same time there is less strain on the'moving parts of the machine. Of course, the jaws still eifect'a guiding action in that the grooves in the horizontal jaws will engage the side ridges of the eye casing although without any camming action, the grooves being deeper than the height of the ridges.

Having thus described my invention, I am aware that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and accordingly I do not seek to be limited to the precise illustration herein given, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads, means comprising four jaws, means for supporting said jaws for swinging movement with respect to each other and with respect to a central axis, said jaws being arranged equi-angularly about said axis, each of said jaws having a forwardly extending tip for insertion in the eye cavity of a doll head, interior surfaces of said jaws constituting a passageway for guiding a doll eye moving therebetween in the direction of said axis, wherein said doll eye effects a camming action on said jaws to swing said jaws to cause the tips thereof to stretch the opening around said cavity to receive said doll eye, said means for supporting said jaws comprising an element having a cruciform opening having side walls therein, each of said jaws being pivoted Within a respective opening and having pivotal sliding side support and guidance against said side walls, said jaws extending outwardly from said element.

2. In a machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads, means comprising four jaws, means for supporting said jaws for swinging movement with respect to each other and with respect to a central axis, said jaws being arranged equi-angularly about said axis, each of said jaws having a forwardly extending tip for insertion in the eye cavity of a doll head, interior surfaces of said jaws constituting a passageway for guiding a doll eye moving therebetween in the direction of said axis, wherein said doll eye efiects a camming action on said jaws to swing said jaws to cause the tipsthereof to stretch the opening around said cavity to receive said doll eye, certain of said jaws being provided with grooves for accommodating ridges of said doll eye-to insure positive guidance thereof as said doll eye moves between said jaws into said cavity.

3. In a machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads,

means comprising four jaws, ineans for supporting said jaws for swinging movement with respect to each other and with respect to a central axis, said jaws being arranged equi-angularly about said axis, each of said jaws having a forwardly extending tip for insertion in the eye cavity of a doll head, interior surfaces of said jaw constituting a passageway for guiding a doll eye moving therebetween in the direction of said axis, wherein said doll eye efiects a camming action on said jaws to swing said jaws to cause the tips thereof to stretch the opening around said cavity to receive said doll eye, said means for supporting said jaws comprising an element having a cruciform opening therein, each of said jaws being pivoted within a respective opening, said jaws extending outwardly from said element, each of said jaws having means engageable with said element for effecting a limiting position of said jaws in respect to said axis and means for resiliently biasing said jaws toward said limiting position.

4. In a machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads, means comprising four jaws, means for supporting said jaws for swinging movement with respect to each other and with respect to a central axis, said jaws being arranged equi-angularly about said axis, each of said jaws having a forwardly extending tip for insertion in the eye cavity of a doll head, interior surfaces of said jaws constituting a passageway for guiding a doll eye moving therebetween in the direction of said axis, wherein said doll eye effects a camming act-ion on said jaws to swing said jaws to cause the tips thereof to stretch the opening around said cavity to receive said doll eye, including cradle means for supporting an eye with the optical axis thereof substantially aligned with said axis of said jaws prior to entry of said eye between said jaws.

5. In a machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads, means comprising four jaws, means for supporting said jaws for swinging movement with respect to each other and with respect to a central axis, said jaws being arranged equi-angularly about said axis, each of said jaws having a forwardly extending tip for insertion in the eye cavity of a doll head, interior surfaces of said jaws constituting a passageway for guiding a doll eye moving therebetween in the direction of said axis, wherein said doll eye effects a camming action on said jaws to swing said jaws to cause the tips thereof to stretch the opening around said cavity to receive said doll eye, including cradle means for supporting an eye with the optical axis thereof substantially aligned with said axis of said jaws prior to entry of said eye between said jaws, said cradle comprising a member having an arcuate recess terminating on each side thereof in a rabbet for effecting support of said eye and a pair of opposed jaws being provided with internal grooves generally co-planar with respective rabbets of said cradle.

6. In a machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads, means comprising four jaws, means for supporting said jaws for swinging movement with respect to each other and with respect to a central axis, said jaws being arranged equi-angularly about said axis, each of said jaws having a forwardly extending tip for insertion in the eye cavity of a doll head, interior surfaces of said jaws constituting a passageway for guiding a doll eye moving therebetween in the direction of said axis, wherein said doll eye effects a camming action on said jaws to swing said jaws to cause the tips thereof to stretch the Opening around said cavity to receive said doll eye, said means for supporting said jaws comprising an element having a cruciform opening therein, each of said jaws having pivotal securing means within a respective opening, said jaws extending outwardly from said element, certain of said jaws being provided with grooves for accommodating ridges of said doll eye to insure positive guidance thereof as said doll eye moves between said jaws into said cavity.

7. In a machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads, means comprising four jaws, means for supporting said jaws for swinging movement with respect to each other and with respect to a central axis, said jaws being arranged equi-angularly about said axis, each of said jaws having a forwardly extending tip for insertion in the eye cavity of a doll head, interior surfaces of said jaws constituting a passageway for guiding a doll eye moving therebetween in the direction of said axis, wherein said doll eye elfects a camming action on said jaws to swing said jaws to cause the tips thereof to stretch the opening around saidcavity to receive said doll eye, said means for supporting said jaws comprising an element having a cruciform opening therein, each of said jaws being pivoted within a respective opening, said jaws extending outwardly from said element, certain of said jaws being provided with grooves for accommodating ridges of said doll eye to insure positive guidance thereof as said doll eye moves between said jaws into said cavity, means for biasing said jaws toward said axis, wherein said jaws are in initial position symmetrically arranged with respect to said axis, said means comprising a loop of resilient material encompassing the exterior surfaces of said jaws.

8. In a machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads, means comprising four jaws, means for supporting said jaws for swinging movement with respect to each other and with respect to a central axis, said jaws being arranged equi-angularly about said axis, each of said jaws having a forwardly extending tip for insertion in the eye cavity of a doll head, interior surfaces of said jaws constituting a passageway for guiding a doll eye moving therebetween in the direction of said axis, wherein said doll eye effects a camming action on said jaws to swing said jaws to cause the tips thereof to stretch the opening around said cavity to receive said doll eye, certain of said jaws being provided with grooves for accommodating ridges of said doll eye to insure positive guidance thereof as said doll eye moves between said jaws into said cavity, means for biasing said jaws toward said axis, wherein said jaws are in initial position symmetrically arranged with respect to said axis, said means comprising a loop of resilient material encompassing the exterior surfaces of said jaw.

9. In a machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads, means comprising four jaws, means for supporting said jaws for swinging movement with respect to each other and with respect to a central axis, said jaws being arranged equi-angularly about said axis, each of said jaws having a forwardly extending tip for insertion in the eye cavity of a doll head, interior surfaces of said jaws constituting a passageway for guiding a doll eye moving therebetween in the direction of said axis, and means for effecting a camming action on said jaws to swing said jaws to cause the tips thereof to stretch the opening around said cavity to receive said doll eye, said means comprising a pusher element engagable with a doll eye for pushing said doll eye through said jaws into the eye cavity, said pusher element having a dimension larger in the transverse direction than said doll eye so as to engage said jaws to effect said camming action.

10. In a machine for inserting doll eyes in doll heads, means comprising four jaws, means for supporting said jaws for swinging movement with respect to each other and with respect to a central axis, said jaws being arranged equi-angularly about said axis, each of said jaws having a forwardly extending tip for insertion in the eye cavity of a doll head, interior surfaces of said jaws constituting a passageway for guiding a doll eye moving therebetween in the direction of said axis, and means for effecting a camming action on said jaws to swing said jaws to cause the tips thereof to stretch the opening around said cavity to receive said doll eye, said means comprising a pusher element engagable with a doll eye for pushing said doll eye through said jaws into the eye cavity, said pusher element having a dimension larger in the transverse direction than said doll eye so as to engage said jaws to effect said camming action, said 7 8 pusher element having a hollowed forward portion for 1,629,207 Drummond ..L. May 17, 1927 accommodating the forward portions of said doll eye. 1,669,053 Hamel May 8, 1928 r 2,184,687 Freud Dec. 26, 1939 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,286,809 Hutchison June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 96 Br dney Apr. 5, 1960 1,408,039 Snyder Feb. 28, 1922 

